Final viewing before exchange? Is this standard practice…

HatsofftoYou

We are due to exchange the end of January we are the buyers. Something that never crossed my mind was to have a final viewing before exchange is this standard?? I had never heard of doing this before until someone mentioned it.

the house has been empty for 5 months, we wouldn’t be viewing it to see if we’re still interested it would be more of has the ceiling caved in, flooding, broken windows and checking if the old appliances have been disposed of. Would this be reasonable?

bobster2

Yes - standard and important. Once you exchange you are committed to buy. So you need to confirm that the house is essentially in the condition you expect.

Slinky

Yes it would, particularly in the circumstances you describe.

imreadyforbed

Yes !!! lived in or empty makes no difference , its ALOT of money your parting with ,  our buyers viewed twice on there own , then once with there children , if its though a agent they earn alot of commission so don't be polite and book another visit or 2 or 3

lookstraightahead

Please don't worry about whether it's standard. You're about to spend a fortune if you want to see it, see it.

I viewed our current house 3 days before exchange. 

Emily_Joy

HatsofftoYou said:

We are due to exchange the end of January we are the buyers. Something that never crossed my mind was to have a final viewing before exchange is this standard?? I had never heard of doing this before until someone mentioned it.

the house has been empty for 5 months, we wouldn’t be viewing it to see if we’re still interested it would be more of has the ceiling caved in, flooding, broken windows and checking if the old appliances have been disposed of. Would this be reasonable?

Yes - you should view it. From our experience I would say pay particular attention to the doors as our vendor managed to cause some damage to nearly all internal doors and two external doors. The loft flap was also barely lockable. My guess it happened during removal furniture & stuff, but I have no idea. You also may like to take some measurements especially if most of the rooms have more than 4 corners...  to make sure your furniture will fit.

Jonboy_1984

Your entire written purchase contract is based on the condition of the property at the point exchange happens and written answers from your vendor...The pre-exchange survey is in theory more important than the viewings pre-offer... 

HatsofftoYou

lookstraightahead said:

Please don't worry about whether it's standard. You're about to spend a fortune if you want to see it, see it.

I viewed our current house 3 days before exchange. 

That was sort of my thoughts we are spending a lot of money and I’m thinking once we have exchanged that’s it the onus is on us, I’m essentially just checking my purchase is as agreed. My vendors live at the other end of the country and I imagine once exchanged they will suddenly be hard to get hold of. Thanks 

maisie_cat

We drove 250 miles to view ours before we committed to exchange. We confirmed while on site and actually got the call that we'd exchanged when we were half way back. Ours was an empty probate sale and had been empty for nearly a year so we wanted to check that it hadn't been broken into, burned down or the roof fallen in.

GDB2222

After exchange, you are responsible for the insurance. That’s not easy to get for an empty house. Do you have that lined up? 

You should discuss that with your solicitor as it may be better to alter the contract to make the vendors liable for insurance until completion. Will you be moving straight in? If so, have you seen the boiler working etc? Is the water switched off and drained down?

Ksw3

You usually get an inkling for what crap they are planning to leave behind too..